This week, Goldy and Paul talk to Chandra Childers, a senior policy and economic analyst at the Economic Policy Institute and author of their recent report on the Southern economic development model. Although the Southern economic development model is touted as a business-friendly strategy, it has devastating consequences for workers and families in Southern states. Childers explains how this economic model is rooted in racism and economic exploitation and has led to lower wages, weaker safety nets, and fewer opportunities for workers. They also discuss the impact of renewed unionization efforts in the region and how some Southern states are bucking this trend and attempting to adopt more progressive policies, despite preemption laws by state governments. 

Chandra Childers is a senior policy and economic analyst with the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) at the Economic Policy Institute. Her work is primarily focused on supporting EARN’s state and local policy research and advocacy network in the Southern United States. Before joining the EARN team at EPI, Childers was a Study Director at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Twitter: @ChandraChilders

Further reading: 

Breaking down the South’s economic underperformance

The evolution of the Southern economic development strategy

Rooted in racism and economic exploitation

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This post was originally published on Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer.